Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-11-24
NOVEMBER EVE.

| luI youth In fanNlllc, us wei rs the inosl
honest and manly, and everybody rather
laughed at poor Fred, for his bushes, hi,
stammerings, his painful embarrassment
when in the presence of ladies tended q
make him appear decidedly ridiculous.
Now, Fanville was country town pretty
and picturesque, and Fred lived about n
mile from its centre, being one of those best
beings, n well to-do farmer His father was
dead, and his mother and he, with their
farm hands and "help' lived comfortably
In the pleasant, roomy farm house, which
was sketched by every artist that came TO
the ncighborhood, even by the beautiful
young lady who was visiting at Squire
Hale's and who was his wifa's niece from
the city.
Fred had first seen her sitting under one
OF the great naples busy with her pencil,
the shadows lightly touching her bright
hair, her face, her fieecy dress, her very
attitude poem 10 him. And then and there
standing at distance and watching her,
the poor, bashful fellow fell in love with the
graceful city belle, whoh so tired of mems
admiration that she had come 10 this quiet,
questionable place 10 escape il.
And when she looked mp at last from her
sketch and, seeing him, left her seat and
went gracefully toward him, il really
seemed TO the poor fellow that he would give
his farm, his favorite black horse-anything
he ownel--to be ten good miles away and
| he was meditating taking 10 his heels when
the sweetest voice he had ever heard ar
rested his intention and sent the blood first
| 10 his heart and then 10 his face
81 am tresSpasSing," the sweet voice said
TO him, "but my excuse must be the beauty
of this quaint old place, which | could not
resist making a sketch Of Will You look
at il and tell me whether have done il JUS
tice >"
Fred could only blush more deeply and
| removed his broad straw hat while he STAN
mered something, lac never knew what.
She was holding ont the sketch to him,
and he didn't know what in the world TO
do. Finally, trembling violently, he took
il from her.
Tit is well done, he said slowly and
with difficulty. at is very true"
"Do you always hold a sketch in that way
when you examine IL >" The lady asked,
with smile and poor Fred then saw that
he had in his confusion held the sketch up
side down This made the perspration start
out on his forehead and he hastily righted
il.
IL beg your pardon, he said. 81 am
afraid am poor judge of such things.
Will-will you 20 10 the house My moth
er-"
Would wonder at my visit. Not to-day,
thank YOU But Mona had talked OF taking
me 10 call on Mrs. Scott
Mona was Squire Hale's daughter, and
about the only girl among his acquaintanc-
rs OF whom Fred was not mortally afraid.
In his delight at the prospect of seeing this
beautiful girl again he could only stammer
some unlntr't'-ihle words, and grow warm
er and more uncomfortable than ever.
~ knew it was not good, but that is
scarcely kind of you" she said reproachful-
ly. And poor Fred nearly tainted, for he
saw that in his confusion he had destroyed
the sketch.
"I-I am very sorry" he faltered. q
was not thinking"
"Oh il is of no consequence, she said,
looking curiously at him. | will make a
mother some day, with your permission"
ooh, will YOU % he asked eagerly and
then she smiled and babe him n pleasant n
dieu, and went away through the sunset,
leaving the sketch in his hands, and from
that day he was more bashful and retiring
then ever, and when Mona brought her
beautiful cousin 10 call on his mother, and
introduced her TO him, he could not say a
word TO her.
"What do You think Of Fred, Elaine 90
Mona asked, as they were driving home
ward. Miss Darrell smiled.
"He is decidedly handsome, but wretched-
~ conscious. l really was tempted to as
sure him that we were quite harmless, Mona,
he seemed SO afraid of us"
'Of you," Mona laughed che dosen't
mind me in the least, but poor Fred is TO be
piticd he is afraid 10 draw his breath where
there are ladies. You'd never think he had
taken his degree at Rutgers would you ?''
''No would not think he had ever been
beyond the confines of his own picturesque
farm" Miss Darrell laughed.
The following Sunday Fred met the two
girls rs they were all walking, and Mona
accosted him like an old friend he was o.
bhgea TO walk with them as far as Squire
Hale's gate but he scarcely opened his lips
on the way, defeating all Miss barrels eff
forts to draw him out by his strange bash
fulness.
''Oh, he would provoke me terribly were
I to meet him often," that young lady said
to Mona, when he had left them.
"He would enchant you were he to con-
quer his timidity, and talk to you as he can
talk" Mona said, stoutly and Miss Oar
rell shrugged her shoulders.
A week later and one night there was a
great excitement in Fanville ; n large build |
ing had taken fire, and before the flames
had been noticed there was no possibility of
saving it. AS is the case in all country
villages, everybody was out to see the fire,
and, as there was no engine within four
miles, many hands held buckets, and there
was general running hither and thither
without much good being accomplished in
the confusion.
Mona and her cousin had gone out with
their neighbors and had been separated by
the crowd Elaine stood at a safe distance,
watching the flames rise, hungry and rapid
in the calm of the night, licking the light
walls with tongues of destruction.
"How grand it is :" she thought, when
suddenly her face paled and her eyes took
the expression Of horror. At an upper win
dow, with the fire playing about its white
face and sunny hair, with its little hands
held fortE pleadingly, she saw child, and
n cry of horror went through the crowd n
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